Blogs

the end of the world as we know it - but I feel fine.

The Second World War is a fading memory and America rules the world. Bill Bryson (2007) The Life and Times of The Thunderbolt Kid: Travels Through My Childhood shows how it was won and it’s not on the front cover with a kid with a hard plastic hat painted silver, aerial attached, Pegasus’s ears pasted on, his face screwed up as he points a plastic ray gun of brightest gold, while behind him sparks fly and a surreal red and white star explodes,...

30 Stories in 30 Days.

I set myself a challenge for November. Write a story a day. 30 Stories in 30 days. Minimum 500 words. I failed! Miserably. I wrote 20. I hadn't taken into account there might be a few problems along the way. Like having Gout twice during November, oh and four days of man flu. But it has got me writing again and that's a good thing. I kind of dried up a bit and found myself being too busy to sit down and tap away at the keyboard. Now I'm tapping...

Story and Poem of the Month

Huge thanks to Kevin Buckle (parsonthru) for this month's picks: I’ve enjoyed reading the picks of the week for November, which has produced an eclectic set of pieces. Please see my notes below. In terms of selection – always a subjective choice – it was difficult to choose from strong and memorable contenders. For Poem of the Month, it’s difficult to separate seashore’s “ Blue ” with its matter-of-factness in the face of grievous serial...

The First "Oh Hell!"

I've just emerged from that period of considerable uncertainty which is the time between publishing a book and getting the first review for it. You see, it's all very well to thrust your work out there to a generally indifferent public and get a few (in this case, very few) sales but it is quite another to find out what people actually thought of your magnum opus. The answer can be quite traumatic. Some time ago, I allowed myself to be flattered...

The MRI is where?

(Before) Have to have a scan on my shoulder. The joint is wobbly, keeps coming out of its socket. The MRI 'centre' is not part of the main hospital, I was told: "Drive past the car park, round the back, buzz in at the barrier. It's a set of porta-cabins". It certainly was. We found it fine but I felt a sense of foreboding entering. MRI reception; small waiting area with 4 other people, who might have been together but no one was talking. A table...

ABCtales is saved!

I am delighted to be able to announce that ABCtales is to carry on. A group of members including rjnewlyn, insertponceyfrenchnamehere, philip sydney, airyfairy and seashore have agreed to take on the responsibility for running the site. There are structural changes behind the scenes - it will be a pure Charity for now on, for example - but the day to day stuff will remain much the same. This means that you, the members, will have a far greater...

Elie Wiesel (1972 [1985]) Night, translated from the French by Marion Wiesel.

We create connections where there are none, Elie Wiesel’s acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo in 1978, was in the winter months and fell on the same day as my birthday. Night is a slim volume, able to be read in one sitting. But it is a holy book, and in these increasingly dark times, it asks the hard question of what happens when. I dreamed my elder brother stood by my bed and mouthed words of warning. Ghosts speak and what our...

So, who is welcome?

Welcome, Sadness, I sensed you'd come today. But, you won't make a habit of always wanting to stay. I know I'd let you in the past, you certainly made the most of that...So you're welcome, Sadness, now the exit's that way. Welcome, Fear, I sensed you'd come today. But, you won't make a habit of always wanting to stay. I know I'd let you in the past, you certainly made the most of that...So you're welcome, Fear, now the exit's that way. Welcome,...

Celtic 3—0 Aberdeen.

I predicted 4—1 to Celtic before kick-off. My predictions usually hit the bar and go out for a corner, so no great surprise there. The bookies were laughing, yet again. Celtic’s hundredth-trophy win, fling in the Scottish Premier League that’s one-hundred and one and if it’s as easy as this then it won’t be long until the Scottish Champions hit two-hundred. Aberdeen got a boost before the game with the omission of Scott Sinclair who has went...

Story, Poem and Inspiration Point of the Week

Congrats go to well wisher and Rosa Cruz this week and the IP looks across the water. Do with it what you will! https://www.abctales.com/story/well-wisher/martians https://www.abctales.com/story/rosa-cruz/surfacing https://www.abctales.com/inspiration-point-ip A darn fine effort all round this week - keep it up!

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